Manual transmission driving assistant

Abstract

A vehicle with a manual transmission includes vibration devices on the clutch pedal and the accelerator pedal. To assist the driver, a controller activates these vibration devices when the corresponding pedal should be further released. Criteria are described for determining whether one of the pedals should be further released during various maneuvers such as vehicle launch, and gear changes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle comprising:
 a clutch pedal having a first vibration device; 
 a manual transmission including a clutch controlled by the clutch pedal; and 
 a controller programmed to activate the first vibration device in response to a driver depressing the clutch pedal further than warranted by sensed conditions. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the sensed conditions comprise:
 a vehicle speed being less than a launch threshold; 
 selection of a launch gear ratio; and 
 a clutch pedal position less than a clutch touch point. 
 
     
     
       3. The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the sensed conditions comprise:
 a vehicle speed being less than a launch threshold; 
 an engine speed exceeding an idle threshold; 
 selection of a launch gear ratio; and 
 an engine acceleration greater than an acceleration threshold. 
 
     
     
       4. The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the sensed conditions comprise:
 a vehicle speed being less than a launch threshold; 
 an engine speed exceeding an idle threshold; 
 selection of a launch gear ratio; and 
 a vehicle acceleration rate less than a function of the vehicle speed and the engine speed. 
 
     
     
       5. The vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising an accelerator pedal having a second vibration device and wherein the controller is further programmed to activate the second vibration device in response to
 a vehicle speed being less than a launch threshold; and 
 an engine speed exceeding a speed threshold. 
 
     
     
       6. The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the sensed conditions comprise:
 a vehicle speed being greater than a launch threshold; and 
 a difference between an engine speed and an input shaft speed being greater than zero and less than a slip threshold. 
 
     
     
       7. The vehicle of  claim 6  further comprising an accelerator pedal having a second vibration device and wherein the controller is further programmed to activate the second vibration device in response to
 the vehicle speed being greater than the launch threshold; and 
 the difference exceeding the slip threshold. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of assisting a driver of a manual transmission vehicle comprising:
 while a clutch is disengaged following a gear ratio change, monitoring a difference between an engine speed and an input shaft speed; and 
 vibrating a clutch pedal in response to the difference being greater than zero and less than a slip threshold. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  further comprising vibrating an accelerator pedal in response to the difference exceeding the slip threshold. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8  further comprising vibrating the clutch pedal during a vehicle launch to indicate that the driver should at least partially release the clutch pedal. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the clutch pedal is vibrated in response to a clutch pedal position being less than a touchpoint. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein the clutch pedal is vibrated in response to a vehicle acceleration rate being less than a function of a vehicle speed and the engine speed. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10  wherein the clutch pedal is vibrated in response to an engine acceleration exceeding an acceleration threshold. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10  further comprising vibrating an accelerator pedal during the vehicle launch in response to the engine speed exceeding a speed threshold to indicate that the driver should at least partially release the accelerator pedal. 
     
     
       15. A method of assisting a driver of a manual transmission vehicle comprising:
 vibrating a clutch pedal in response to first sensed conditions indicating that the clutch pedal should be at least partially released; and 
 vibrating an accelerator pedal in response to second sensed conditions indicating that the accelerator pedal should be at least partially released. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein the first sensed conditions comprise:
 following a gear ratio change, a difference between an engine speed and an input shaft speed being greater than zero and less than a slip threshold. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein the first sensed conditions comprise:
 following the gear ratio change, the difference exceeding the slip threshold. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15  wherein the first sensed conditions comprise:
 during a launch event, a clutch pedal position being less than a touch point. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15  wherein the first sensed conditions comprise:
 during a launch event, a vehicle acceleration rate being less than a function of a vehicle speed and an engine speed. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15  wherein the first sensed conditions comprise:
 during a launch event, an engine acceleration exceeding an acceleration threshold.